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Grades

Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008

By ROGER CLARKSON

Rushing offense

B+ Knowshon Moreno had a strong game as he ran for 123 yards on 22 carries and scored three times. But Georgia's second-most effective runner was receiver A.J. Green who had a 28-yard reverse. Moreno's backups Richard Samuel and Caleb King combined for one 2-yard carry by Samuel. King's blocking gaffes against Florida last week led to his not getting any carries against Kentucky. Moreno played very well, but the Bulldogs did not produce much of a balance.

Passing offense

B+ With Matthew Stafford and Mohamed Massaquoi setting career highs, you'd expect this grade to be higher. But Stafford was sacked twice and Massaquoi had two potential game-costing fumbles in the fourth quarter. Massaquoi bounced back to make the catch-and-run that set up the game winner. He had eight catches for 191 yards and a touchdown. Stafford hit 17 of 27 for 376 yards and three touchdowns. A.J. Green caught the game-winner on an improvised play.

Rushing defense

C- Georgia gave up far more yards and many more points than it's comfortable with. But the Bulldogs won. Kentucky sliced open the Bulldogs with 226 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Randall Cobb ran for 82 yards and three touchdowns. Georgia reacted slowly to Kentucky's read option as Tony Dixon and Alfonso Smith combined for 121 yards. What makes this trend so disturbing is that the run defense has been Georgia's strength.

Passing defense

B Demarcus Dobbs' interception sealed the win, but Kentucky really didn't throw downfield enough to stretch the defense. Kentucky's freshman quarterback Randall Cobb completed 12 of 20 passes for 105 yards and Dobbs' interception. The defensive ends played one of their better games as Jarius Wynn batted a pass down at the line and Roderick Battle forced two fumbles to go with five tackles and a pass breakup.

Special Teams

D- Breakdowns came in bunches in probably the worst special-teams performance of the season. Georgia gave up a blocked punt on a blown blocking assignment. Georgia also lost containment on a 96-yard kickoff return. Both the blocked punt and the long kickoff return set up touchdowns. Brian Mimbs shanked an 18-yard punt to set up another score. Prince Miller misplayed a punt and Georgia had to start a possession on its own 2-yard line. On the positive side, Georgia didn't have any turnovers on returns and Blair Walsh hit all of his kicks.

Coaching

C Georgia won the game but didn't look overly impressive. Special-teams miscues and huge gaps in the run defense helped keep the score close despite career days by Stafford, Massaquoi and Moreno. A personal-foul penalty kept Kentucky's final drive alive one more play but Demarcus Dobbs ended the drama with an interception. Georgia had five penalties for 58 yards, but gave the Wildcats two free first downs on them.